Remotely-Delivered Benefits Counseling for Service Connection Applicants

Veterans will complete three intervention modules online. For the first module, Veterans will be instructed on how to use the website and its purpose; will be asked about their perception of the relationship between disability benefits and work. An explanation of relationship between disability benefits and work will be provided. For the second module, Veterans' feelings and attitudes towards employment will be solicited. Motivational Interviewing exercises will be implemented; barriers to work including the disabling condition and consideration of treatment for disabling conditions will be reviewed. An action plan will be developed. For the third module, inquiries will be made regarding the Veteran's reaction to the service-connection decision; information will be provided on how to appeal the decision. Veterans will be asked to reconsider work and financial goals in light of service-connection award. Their action plan will be reviewed. Follow-up resources will be provided.

The control condition will involve referrals to VA websites and represents enhanced treatment-as-usual. A Veteran who completes a Compensation examination ordinarily has no further treatment or referral as part of the Compensation examination. The information about benefits-related websites controls for having information available about benefits and receiving encouragement to pursue that information. The control condition involves being urged to explore links to three VA websites with Compensation \& Pension-related information: (a) the VBA website with links about VA disability compensation, (b) the VBA site with fact sheets about the different types of benefits available to Veterans, and (c) the VBA websites for the local C\&P office where issues pertaining to an individual Veteran's specific application are addressed.